Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Today was a bit of a tough day; I’m not quite sure why I’ve
been so uncomfortable—I’m probably in deep denial about needing to go to my
back doctor and get in and have my annual neurotomies, and I really should go
see a rheumatologist about the persistent ache in my hands (and hoping the pain
in the hips is related to the pain in my hands). So I wasn’t terribly
productive in the yard today, though I did cultivate some nasty baby weeds and
pick up some big mistletoe branches that fell due to the high winds.
Consequently, tonight I’m not feeling so rewarded by my lack of productivity.

There are two things I like best about doing yard work. The
first has been the opportunity to learn how to take care of plants and
trees—thanks YouTube! To the best of my physical abilities I pruned my roses
this past fall—and pruned them properly—and I’m reaping the benefits by finally
having abundant, beautiful roses. Time will tell if the aggressive pruning I did on the grape
vines will result in edible fruit, how many blackberries I end up harvesting in
July, and if my nectarine and peach trees give lots of fruit.

What I like best about yard work (something I call “dirt
therapy” for lack of a better term) is it gives me lots of time to think.
Sometimes thinking can be dangerous, sometimes productive. I’ve had three main
life goals I’ve been thinking about, thoughts and wishes that are motivating
me.

The first of course is the hope I can someday buy myself a
mini-horse as therapy, both mental and physical. Being involuntarily weaned from being owned by horses is
probably contributing greatly to my overall dissatisfaction with life. I accept
that I shouldn’t be riding anymore, but I miss just having a horse to brush,
care for, and talk to. But no one
can help me with that one—I have to find the money, it’s on ME.

The second goal is pulling my house and yard together to the
point where I can entertain family and people I care about. I’d love to be able
to open my front door (which needs to be replaced or refinished…) and invite
people in to a nicely furnished house, with a nice, inviting backyard and deck.
The ghetto-ness of my house starts right at the driveway with weeds and a
truckload of garbage that just doesn’t seem to get hauled off. I guess there is
hoarder’s treasure somewhere in there.

Face it, I’m old enough that I should be hosting holiday
dinners and family get-togethers.
And someday, when this house* and yard is whipped into shape, I’d like
to have host a family reunion of sorts, a party bringing together the
descendants of James McCoey and Mary Ann Welsh, my paternal great-grandparents
on my father’s mother’s side.
James and Mary Ann (who were divorced, and it was some sort of family
scandal, because my grandmother wouldn’t talk about it at all) now have
great-great-great grandchildren, and there are actually quite a few of us still
in this area. I know I’d have a houseful, but I really want to reconnect with
those loved ones I’ve simply not seen in forever, and meet their children and
grandchildren (some of whom I’ve not met…). It’s not going to happen this
summer, because I’ve not yet figured out how to rid myself of the ghetto deck
and opossum condo that doubles as a broke-down hot tub.

The third “something” is figuring out a way to give to
people who need just a tiny bit of help to keep them going. I’m not talking
about throwing money at people—I have none (and if I did, look at the second
paragraph again to see where my money would go!). I’m talking about doing
things—a little something that might make someone’s life easier. Be it as small
as coming in and doing some light housework/yard work, I know what a difference
it would make. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a “club” (for lack of better term)
of KCHS graduates who would be willing to get together and just DO something
for someone? Put our pennies together, or our abilities, and just take on a small
project that would brighten someone’s day and maybe make their life easier? Like
a 4-H for grown-ups I guess!

* Whipping this house together means fresh paint outside and
inside, new carpet in two bedrooms, new flooring in two bathrooms and the
kitchen, remodel of the bathrooms [specifically new vanities], remodel of the
kitchen, a dining room set [including a sideboard for storing nice stuff] and a
television wall unit with shelving. In other words, it means pretty much a new
house and furnishings.

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Cathy & Shorty

About Me

I am a middle-aged moderate Republican who is concerned about the direction this country is taking. I'm mostly socially liberal but I am very fiscally conservative and I think too many people in this country are waiting for handouts and not seeking solutions.